larrygator Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 (edited) UPDATE! Jan. 8th 2014 Confirmed that it will be a Diggerland: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/01/new_theme_park_to_be_built_in_south_jersey_report_says.html New construction-themed amusement park being built in South Jersey By Jeff Goldman/The Star-Ledger January 07, 2014 BERLIN— A new amusement park is coming to South Jersey this summer. Diggerland Adventure Park, which is being touted by developers as the first construction-themed amusement park in the United States, will be built in West Berlin, Camden County, a spokesman for the company building the 14-acre park confirmed today. The park is built by Sahara Sam's Oasis at 100 Pinedge Drive, adjacent to its indoor-outdoor water park on Route 73, spokesman Chris Peters said. Peters said ground has already been broken and that Diggerland is tentatively scheduled for an early summer opening. There are four similar theme parks in England. The company will hold a press conference on Tuesday to release further information about the project. It posted an opening for a park manager on an online job site last month. The township zoning board approved the project at a November meeting, Peters said. Diggerland lets visitors ride full-size construction equipment, according to its website. There are also play areas and sand pits. Among the top attractions at its English parks are Sky Shuttle, Spin Dizzy and a six-ton digger. The park will include some of those rides as well as new attractions that the United Kingdom parks don't have, Peters said. ------------------------------------------------------------ I'm skeptical, but intrigued by the proclamation being made on this New Jersey waterpark's website. I'll be on the lookout for their January 14th announcement. http://saharasams.com/ai1ec_event/press-conference/?instance_id= MEDIA ALERT – Press ConferenceSahara Sams 2014 Press Conference What: Press Conference: Details regarding a new theme park, the first of its kind to be constructed in the United States, will be made public by the owners of the South Jersey Indoor and Outdoor Water Park, Sahara Sam’s Oasis. Who: The Executive Management Team of Sahara Sam’s Oasis, Undisclosed Principal Investors, Current Owners of the Water Park Facility, Local and State Level Government Officials Where: On-Location: Sahara Sam’s Oasis 535 N. Route 73 West Berlin, NJ 08091. *Facilities this day will only be made available to members of the media, executive management, owners, and those with event invitations. On-Line: The Press Conference will stream live and be available for review via YouTube. Visit http://www.youtube.com/saharasams/ Visit the Live Stream Page: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acMwCQQiWJo&feature=share When: Tuesday, January 14th 12:00 – 1:00 PM EST *The conference will start promptly at 12:00 PM. Please arrive earlier for light refreshments and seating. Interviews with the Public Relations Department and Ownership will be made available after the conference. Edited January 8, 2014 by robbalvey
KBrylczyk Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Sooooooo what exactly is so special about this? We have a few indoor water parks already... Edit - I no reed gud.
larrygator Posted January 1, 2014 Author Posted January 1, 2014 Sooooooo what exactly is so special about this? We have a few indoor water parks already... Edit - I no reed gud. Did the drinking start early in Vegas?
YoshiFan Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Maybe a combo indoor water park and amusement park? Whatever it is I hope it involves a coaster other than a kiddie coaster indoors that can operate year round.
KBrylczyk Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 ^^ Not for me. Sober as a bird until Scandi 2014, haha. Though I have had a LOT of coffee today (had to be at work at 6am this morning) so that might be the culprit...
805Andrew Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Wasn't an Indoor Ski Area similar to the one in Dubai supposed to open in New Jersey near NYC? I wouldn't hold my breath for this one, but it would be cool if it's built.
triggernel Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Hopefully it'll be better than the indoor "theme park" they added to the Kalahari in the Dells.
Rollercoaster Rider Posted January 1, 2014 Posted January 1, 2014 Hope It's better than The Parthenon at Mt. Olympus.
strwrse1 Posted January 2, 2014 Posted January 2, 2014 I heard it's going to be similar to this: www.diggerland.com/ Anybody know how popular these are in the UK? There are 4 of them.
triggernel Posted January 2, 2014 Posted January 2, 2014 Well it's an interesting concept. Looks like something the families would be all over.
coasterbill Posted January 2, 2014 Posted January 2, 2014 I'm not expecting much from this but you never know. Wasn't an Indoor Ski Area similar to the one in Dubai supposed to open in New Jersey near NYC? I wouldn't hold my breath for this one, but it would be cool if it's built. Yes, and they're still working on it. It was originally going to be called Xanadu but now it's "American Dream". It's been under construction for years and according to Governor Christie it's the "ugliest building in New Jersey, and possibly America". Link. I have no idea what the situation is with this building but the project is now over 10 years old and all we have is a shell of the ugliest building in America with nothing inside which is going to be really embarrassing when the Super Bowl is played next door to it later this winter.
A.J. Posted January 2, 2014 Posted January 2, 2014 So that's what that thing is! I would drive by it on my way to New York City and every time I'd be like, "who designed that thing?!?".
yankeeman311 Posted January 2, 2014 Posted January 2, 2014 ^^I've passed by that building for years. They built it about 7-8 years ago but apparently the investment turned into a big bust. It's right next to Metlife Stadium too so it's a damn shame something productive didn't come out of that. My dad hates that building with a passion because of the design. Calling it the ugliest building in NJ is a stretch when you have Newark, Camden and Atlantic City though.
805Andrew Posted January 2, 2014 Posted January 2, 2014 Its too bad they couldn't open that Indoor Ski Area in time for the Super Bowl. The building is ugly, but they could always paint it a different color/pattern to improve its look (somewhat).
alwaysairtime14 Posted January 2, 2014 Posted January 2, 2014 ^ Lol, true, true. Hard to call it the ugliest when you've got all the factories in northern Jersey and mile long grey warehouses along 95.
larrygator Posted January 4, 2014 Author Posted January 4, 2014 ^^I've passed by that building for years. They built it about 7-8 years ago but apparently the investment turned into a big bust. Not exactly true. There were problems with the original investment team getting their funding in order but the current investors who have a track record (they also own Mall of America and the West Edmonton Mall) have the money and see the potential. The biggest issue right now is a battle with the New York Giants and Jets regarding traffic in the area. The main issue is the football teams do not want the amusement park operating on game days. In October, the town of East Rutherford gave approval for the mall and amusement. Just like many projects, final funding is not secure but these at least these guys have a track record with similar projects. American Dream Discussion Thread
Gav Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 Its too bad they couldn't open that Indoor Ski Area in time for the Super Bowl. The building is ugly, but they could always paint it a different color/pattern to improve its look (somewhat). Disagree. At least they have done something with it to differentiate it from the typical plain box most shopping malls are:
larrygator Posted January 8, 2014 Author Posted January 8, 2014 Confirmed that it will be a Diggerland. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/01/new_theme_park_to_be_built_in_south_jersey_report_says.html New construction-themed amusement park being built in South Jersey By Jeff Goldman/The Star-Ledger January 07, 2014 BERLIN— A new amusement park is coming to South Jersey this summer. Diggerland Adventure Park, which is being touted by developers as the first construction-themed amusement park in the United States, will be built in West Berlin, Camden County, a spokesman for the company building the 14-acre park confirmed today. The park is built by Sahara Sam's Oasis at 100 Pinedge Drive, adjacent to its indoor-outdoor water park on Route 73, spokesman Chris Peters said. Peters said ground has already been broken and that Diggerland is tentatively scheduled for an early summer opening. There are four similar theme parks in England. The company will hold a press conference on Tuesday to release further information about the project. It posted an opening for a park manager on an online job site last month. The township zoning board approved the project at a November meeting, Peters said. Diggerland lets visitors ride full-size construction equipment, according to its website. There are also play areas and sand pits. Among the top attractions at its English parks are Sky Shuttle, Spin Dizzy and a six-ton digger. The park will include some of those rides as well as new attractions that the United Kingdom parks don't have, Peters said.
robbalvey Posted January 8, 2014 Posted January 8, 2014 Very interesting. Curious about what the will actually announce.
gisco Posted January 8, 2014 Posted January 8, 2014 Get to operate construction equipment has got to be cool. The park is different then anything else so I can see this being popular for a while at least.
Hercules Posted January 10, 2014 Posted January 10, 2014 I can't imagine what they are paying in terms of specialty insurance for this place. Anyone want to hit up the bar, throw down some shots of Fireball Whiskey, and go let it rip on a backhoe?
snofru Posted June 18, 2014 Posted June 18, 2014 Diggerland is open, website is up http://diggerlandusa.com/ News
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